2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec

There is a lot to appreciate about the new 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec. For starters, it is powered by a technologically advanced 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 that utilizes a sophisticated network of exhaust gas treatment devices that make the BlueTec the "world's cleanest diesel," according to Mercedes-Benz. Even better, the engine produces a whopping 400 lb-ft of torque between 1600 and 2400 rpm, good enough to propel the well-mannered luxury sedan from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, only 0.1 second behind the E350 according to Mercedes. That should be fast enough to banish forever the widely-held perception of diesels as slow. Fuel economy, of course, is stellar: 27 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway (Mercedes-Benz estimates), compared with 19/26 for the E350.

What is BlueTec?

BlueTec, according to Mercedes-Benz, is "a modular concept that utilizes several coordinated technical measures to minimize emissions within the engine and also provide for effective exhaust-gas treatment downstream." Specifically, it involves an oxidation catalytic converter to reduce carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, a particulate filter and new techniques for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. Achieving the latter goal starts in the engine itself, which reduces engine-out emissions through a combination of electronic engine control systems, four-valve cylinder heads, third-generation common-rail direct injection, variable-geometry turbochargers and exhaust-gas recirculation. All of the systems require no scheduled maintenance or replacement, according to Mercedes-Benz.

At this point, however, the E320 BlueTec is only clean enough to sell in 45 states. Mercedes-Benz anticipates that it will be a 50-state car when it perfects its urea injection AdBlue system, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process, sometime by 2009, when even more stringent Bin 5 emissions standards are implemented nationwide. AdBlue Injection treats exhaust gases with a urea solution which releases ammonia, reducing nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water. The solution is held in a tank that would require a refill only during scheduled maintenance. However promising, Mercedes-Benz still has some work to do ironing out the regulation details (what happens if the AdBlue tanks runs dry, for example, which would significantly increase emissions) with the EPA. The company is optimistic that it will be compliant by the 2009 model year, and has recently announced plans to sell 50-state diesel versions (with AdBlue) of the M-, R-, and GL-class SUVs in 2008.

Attractive Pricing

On a more positive note, however, is the 2007 E320 BlueTec's price, which, at $52,325, is just $1000 higher than that of the gas-powered E350. This pricing strategy follows that of the outgoing E320 CDI, which was a grand higher than the non-diesel E320. However, with the BlueTec engine's significant advancements, we expected more of a jump in price over the E350 this year.

The attractive price should ensure that Mercedes-Benz will continue seeing a fairly high take rate for its E-Class diesel, especially in the face of rising fuel costs. The company sold an impressive 11,000 E320 CDIs since the launch of the vehicle during the 2004 model year.

The new E320 BlueTec is on sale as of October 16, 2006, just as the long-awaited, low-sulfur diesel fuel required for the BlueTec system to operate properly becomes available at diesel fuel pumps nationwide.

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